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What Causes Shortness Of Breath?
Question: Hello. i am a 44 year old male. I do drink, and have smoked for 20 years. I am business man. recently lost my father. I swim and work out. The last few days I've had shortness of breath, insomnia, now some occasional jitters. I've stopped smoking. Using the nicotine gum. I've used an over the counter homeopathic inhaler, as well as musinex to try and help my chest congestion. The shortness of breath has kept me up this evening. Thats my main concern.I have no allergies that i know of. If i lye down, the congestion worsens. The inhaler seems too have made it worse. My pulse & B.P are fairly normal. My body just feels like it needs oxygen. Some morning sweats. I have had, in my youth bronchitis serval times. Yet I do not feel sick? Just suddenly short of breath. I am fully capable of driving to the hospital. 2nd option is to see my general. Yet thats hours from now. Any thoughts? Might it be something to with my heart? Thanks
Brief Answer:
Seems to be COPD.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for posting the query on HCM. After going through your query, I would like to comment the following:
1. You seem to be suffering from COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease).
2. You currently seem to having sudden onset of breathlessness since evening making you feel uneasy.
3. Investigations that are required at the minimum are chest xray and ECG.
4. Thus you need to visit a hospital at the earliest and get these two investigations done along with emergency clinical evaluation. Its better that someone accompanies you to the hospital.
5. Also a detailed clinical evaluation may later be done with a Pulmonologist. Investigations that may be required then are pulmonary function tests and some blood examinations.
6. If you have a rescue inhaler prescribed earlier, you may take one now. Please avoid over the counter inhalers without prescription.
I hope I have answered your query. I will be glad to answer follow up queries if any. Please accept my answer if you have no follow up queries.
Regards
Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra
MBBS MD DNB
Consultant Pulmonologist
Seems to be COPD.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for posting the query on HCM. After going through your query, I would like to comment the following:
1. You seem to be suffering from COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease).
2. You currently seem to having sudden onset of breathlessness since evening making you feel uneasy.
3. Investigations that are required at the minimum are chest xray and ECG.
4. Thus you need to visit a hospital at the earliest and get these two investigations done along with emergency clinical evaluation. Its better that someone accompanies you to the hospital.
5. Also a detailed clinical evaluation may later be done with a Pulmonologist. Investigations that may be required then are pulmonary function tests and some blood examinations.
6. If you have a rescue inhaler prescribed earlier, you may take one now. Please avoid over the counter inhalers without prescription.
I hope I have answered your query. I will be glad to answer follow up queries if any. Please accept my answer if you have no follow up queries.
Regards
Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra
MBBS MD DNB
Consultant Pulmonologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
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